101st Paris-Roubaix - CDM

France, April 13, 2003

Who will reign in the Queen of the Classics?

The 101st edition of the Queen of the Classics will be the
highlight of the season for many riders and fans alike. Considered
the toughest race on the calendar, Paris-Roubaix stands above
the rest as being a race where good luck and sturdy equipment
go hand in hand with strong legs and tactical astuteness. For
a rider to puncture four times and still win is almost unheard
of in any race other than Paris-Roubaix.

During their 260 kilometre journey across the open, wind blown
northern part of France, the riders have to negotiate 26 bone
shaking, muscle numbing sections of cobblestones, relics of
a past age where the horse was the transport vehicle of choice.
There are 49.1 kilometres of these cobbles in total, and a great
deal of power and skill is required to travel over them without
coming to grief.

The combination of pavé and foul weather can lead to epic editions
of this Classic, where its nickname "The Hell of the North"
still applies. This description was first penned by a Parisian
journalist visiting the area in 1919, when the organisers resumed
racing after a five-year break due to World War 1. The roads
were in such poor condition that the course had to be altered
in several places. However, it was not the roads which inspired
the comment, rather, it was the devastation of the countryside
in a war which resulted in nine million victims.

Over the years, organisers have seen most of the pavé either
completely deteriorate or be re-surfaced, but the parcours retains
some 50km of cobbles, because they are what makes Paris-Roubaix
so unique and unpredictable. A rider's position within the field
going into the harsher sections is paramount to a safe exit
at the other side. Tactically, the pavé can be like the mountains
in stage race: a place where some riders go on the attack, and
others strive to survive.

The first section is at Troisvilles (km 99), and the next 25
are peppered over the final 160 km, finishing with a short section
entering the Roubaix Velodrome. The toughest sections are at
Haveluy (2500m, km 158.3), Foret d'Arenberg (2400m, km 166.5),
Auchy-Lez-Orchies à Bersee (2600m, km 207.6), Cysoing (1400m,
km 235.8), Camphin-en-Pévèle (1800m, km 242), and Carrefour
de l'Arbre (2100m, km 244.8).

The velodrome itself is another important feature of this race.
After the riders have battered themselves half to death on the
cobbles, they enter the smooth concrete velodrome in Roubaix
and sprint it out over the final 500 metres, with a massive
crowd on hand to cheer them at the finish. The atmosphere is
unique, and many riders dream of entering the velodrome alone
in the lead to savour the victory to its fullest. Few realise
this dream, however.

Favourites

This year's race contains four past winners, and another eight podium finishers,
most of whom could be considered chances on Sunday. Reigning over them all is
the Lion of Flanders, Johan Museeuw (Quick.Step-Davitamon), who has three victories
to his credit including a very impressive solo win last year. Despite some health
problems in recent weeks, Johan looks to be back at the right level to win Paris-Roubaix
again, and for most he will be the outright favourite.

A strong team and a good director are also important for this race, and Museeuw
has that in spades. Quick.Step director Patrick Lefevere has guided his riders
to seven victories in the last eight years, including four 1-2-3 finishes (1996,
1998, 1999, 2001). He knows how to prepare a team for this race, and with riders
like Servais Knaven (2001 winner), Tom Boonen (3rd last year), and Frank Vandenbroucke
(2nd in the Ronde last weekend), he has an embarrassment of riches. If you were
a betting fan, you would put your money on one of Lefevere's men.

The challengers to the crown are fewer this year, thanks to the withdrawal
of Steffen Wesemann (Telekom), who crashed in the Ronde last Sunday and broke
a rib. Also Ludo Dierckxsens (Landbouwkrediet), who broke his collarbone in
Gent-Wevelgem, and George Hincapie (US Postal-Berry Floor), who is suffering
from a sinus problem and is currently seeking a cure back home in the US.

Frederic Guesdon (FDJeux.com) surprised many when he won Roubaix in 1997, but
since then has never achieved the same level of success. However the FDJeux.com
leader rode well in the Ronde van Vlaanderen where he attacked at the foot of
the Muur van Geraardsbergen to eventually finish sixth. He knows the pavé well,
and will relish the opportunity on Sunday to attack it again. His team contains
Jacky Durand, who will surely try and inveigle himself into the early break,
and strongmen Bernhard Eisel and Christophe Mengin.

Ronde van Vlaanderen winner and World Cup leader Peter van Petegem (Lotto-Domo)
has taken a break this week, choosing not to race Gent-Wevelgem in order to
be fully fresh for Paris-Roubaix. Van Petegem finished second in this race in
2000, and says that he now has the hunger back to win these big races.

Team CSC will be lead by Andrea Tafi, the big Tuscan pavé specialist who finished
third in 1996, second in 1998 and finally won in 1999. Tafi was a little off
form in the Ronde, but team sources say he's been getting better and better
this week, and really wants to do well in Roubaix. The team also contains Dutchman
Tristan Hoffman, as well as Nicolas Jalabert and Paul Van Hyfte.

As previously mentioned, the US Postal presented by Berry Floor team will be
without George Hincapie in his favourite classic, but is well stocked with big,
strong riders such as Benoît Joachim, Pavel Padrnos, Guennadi Mikhailov and
Steffen Kjaergaard. The team's leaders will be Viatcheslav Ekimov and Max Van
Heeswijk, both of whom have the experience and the form to mix it up with the
others in the lead.

Caldirola-Sidermec will be spearheaded by Gianluca Bortolami, who was second
in 1996, and Romans Vainsteins, third in 2001. The bright yellow colours will
be easy to spot in the bunch, and it will be interesting to see whether Caldirola-Sidermec
can mount a challenge to Lefevere.

Crédit Agricole will be relying on its Australian champion Stuart O'Grady,
who has had a couple of top 20 finishes in Paris-Roubaix. O'Grady found his
legs in the Ronde last week where he finished third, so can certainly be counted
on the outsiders list in P-R this year.

Domina Vacanze-Elitron will be sans World Champion Mario Cipollini, who is
a little out of sorts after pulling out of the Ronde and crashing in Gent-Wevelgem
during the week. The Paris-Roubaix pavé might not be the best place to show
off the all-white rainbow striped gear that Cipollini prefers to wear, and the
big sprinter has never been a great fan of riding the Hell of the North.

Telekom has been a steady presence in the classics this year, but without Steffen
Wesemann the magenta squad will struggle to do well. Erik Zabel has finished
third here before however, and if he gets to the velodrome in the front group
then the money will be on him.

The Cofidis crew is on home territory in the northern part of France, and certainly
Nico Mattan will be looking to capitalise on his form that saw him take 5th
in the Ronde. Mattan was on Museeuw's wheel when he attacked last year, and
will try not to let the Lion get away this time. Also in the team are Jo Planckaert
and Philippe Gaumont, the latter another strong rider who broke his leg on the
Arenberg cobbles a couple of years ago.

Ag2r's Jaan Kirsipuu is another rider built for this race, although the solid
Estonian sprinter has not placed on the podium yet. Trying to regain form after
an illness last week, Kirsipuu is another outside chance.

Saeco's Dario Pieri is targeting the cobbled classics, without a great deal
of success so far. He's got some form but hasn't been able to break into the
top three yet. Perhaps Sunday is his day?

Finally, wily old Italian Fabio Baldato (Alessio) is another rider who has
finished on the podium in Roubaix, placing second behind Tchmil in 1994. Baldato
knows how to handle himself on the cobbles, and could be another rider for the
top 10.

Weather

It should be a fast edition of Paris-Roubaix this year, with warm and sunny
18 degree conditions predicted, with a following south westerly wind. There
will be a little rain in the days leading up to the race, so the famous Paris-Roubaix
mud could well show itself on the riders' jerseys by the end of the day.

Live Coverage

Cyclingnews will be providing live coverage of the 101st Paris-Roubaix, from
start to finish on Sunday. Coverage begins at 11:00 CEST/4:00am EST (America
East Coast)/1:00am PST (America West Coast)/19:00 AEST (Australia East Coast).
In addition, we'll be posting full results, report and photos right after the
race.